TSG79 Wrap it Up

This week the  featured Trendsetter at There She Goes is Natalie and she has a great challenge for us! She has challenged us to get gifty by creating any type of gift themed card or project. Gift tags, card sets, bags, boxes, the possibilities are endless!! Have fun with this challenge and let your creativity soar!

I love making gifts for Christmas but not knowing how much time I will have this year, I've decided to make my own bags and tags.  I have a pile of alterables and I figured why not make a Kraft bag a little prettier right?  The DP is all from one of the Echo Park Christmas lines and the stamps used are from the new release, Snowy Days. This will definitely be my go to Christmas set.  I have watercolored the image with watercolor pencils and then sponged the edge with Wheat (Versamagic) and Crumb Cake (SU) - now when I look at the bag I wish I hadn't sponged the focal panel at all... Oh well... you live and learn right? 


To be eligible for the giveaway, you are to create a gift of some kind, then go back to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of this challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (11-08-10). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store!

By participating in this challenge, you may also find yourself in the Trendsetting Spotlight that shines on the TSG Blog every Thursday. We will be on the look out to find challenge cards that stand out and show Trendsetting qualities. TSG stamps are not required to participate in the challenges but are appreciated :)

You do not need to have a blog to be able to participate in the TSG Challenges! You can simply add the URL link from your project after it has been uploaded to your online craft gallery. If you upload your card to an online craft gallery, please use the keyword TSG79 so we can check out your beautiful work!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps - Snowy Days by There She Goes
Paper: Basic Black, Echo Park DP, Watercolor paper
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Wheat, Crumb Cake
Accessories:  Nestabilities, Dingle Balls trim, Watercolor pencils, waterbrush, button, linen thread, ribbon

Have a great day and get crafty!!!

SFYTT Presents anyone?

I love Saturdays!!! It's the weekend and Jen del Muro blows us away each week with her amazing sketches!!!  I am loving them! And I'm loving everything about My Favorite Things lately. I love their versatility of all the sets and all of their lines.  I've fallen in love with the Pure Innocence stamps - this one is "Presents for You".  I've watercolored the image with watercolor pencils (Derwent Inktense and miscellaneous) and a waterbrush. Thank you Kim for making me get the Derwent Inktense pencils!!!! She's such a great enabler I tell ya!!!  I'm having so much fun with watercolor pencils and I know you'll be seeing many cards with them in the near future!!!  The DP is from October Afternoon (Thrift Shop and Fly A Kite).  See the snowflake?? Love it!!! Now I just need to get more - I'm obsessed with them I tell ya!!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Presents for you - My Favorite Things
Paper:  Gina K White, Early Espresso, October Afternoon DP, Canson Watercolor paper
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories and Tools:  Nesties, Derwent Inktense Pencils, Watercolor pencils, waterbrush, Wooden snowflake (Magenta), button, linen thread, Cuttlebug embossing folders

CDS Sneak Peek - The Light of Winter

Welcome back for Day 2 of sneak peeks at Clear Dollar Stamps. All of the sets will be available on November 1st.  Kim Teasdale has created this gorgeous candle set called "The light of Winter".  I plan on making this a set of 4 cards to give to my mom (She's always asking me for cards so I know she'd appreciate getting them so she can give them to friends).  For my first card above, I decided to use one of the sentiments from the set and make a simpler card.  I kept the Nestabilities in place and sponged around it with Crumb Cake and Vintage Sepia.  I love the simplicity of the card.

For my second card, I used the candle image that I watercolored with Tombow Markers. Another simple card here to highlight the beauty of the set.  (Sorry about the shadow from the bow - I was taking this pic later at night and couldn't get a great pic of it). 

Thanks for checking out my sneak peeks for today.  Check out the rest of the team's peeks - you'll love them.

Everyday Jar-gon Additions: Laurie, Katie, Cassie, Barb, Lisa
Rooster Sunrise: Laurie, Trudy, Katie, Gloria
The Light of Winter/Let God's Light Shine: Kim, Angela, Katie, Tricia
Thankful Pockets/Thankful Pocket Quote: Laurie, Katie, Nancy, Cassie

CDS Sneak Peek - Get Well Critters

For my TSG Blog Hop posts, please scroll down a bit.

I'm so excited for this month's release at Clear Dollar Stamps - available on November 1st.  Each of the illustrators has come up with great sets and it was so hard to choose which ones to work with.  But when I saw "Get Well Critters" from Laurie Wilson, I immediately knew I had to have it.  It's flu season and it's always nice to be able to give someone a card who isn't feeling well - just brightens their day to know someone is thinking of them.  There's also a companion set to this one that is full of great sentiments.  For my first project, I decided to make one of the tissue box covers that is over on SCS right now. The box was incredibly easy to make and I'm sure I'll be making more of them.  I've used My Mind's Eye DP (I ended up using two different patterns between the 4 sides because I didn't have enough of just one DP to do all 4 sides the same).  I've watercolored the turtle with Tombow Markers - have you noticed I'm trying to color with different mediums to see which one I like the best but I'll admit I'll always come back to my Tombows. 

Stamps/Images: Get Well Critters

Cardstock/Papers: Kraft, Early Espresso, MME DP, watercolor paper
Inks/Markers: Versafine Onyx Black, Tombows - will add later
Accents/Tools: Ribbon, Nestabilities, Button, Linen Thread, Embossing Powder
Techniques: Tissue Box Cover - Tutorial - http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/tissueboxcover/

For my second card, I wanted to use the mouse - it was too cute to resist!  We all get boo-boos every now and then.... some more than others I think.  The image has been watercolored with my Tombow Markers and the DP is from Basic Grey - Olivia pack. 

SUPPLIES:
Stamps/Images: Get Well Critters

Cardstock/Papers: Gina K White, Basic Black, Olivia Basic Grey DP, Watercolor paper
Inks/Markers: Versafine Onyx Black, Tombows - 912,N79, N89, N65, 772,451 SU Cameo Coral Marker
Accents/Tools: Nestabilities, Ribbon, Buttons, Linen Thread, Corner Chomper
A few sets are being shown today so make sure you check out all the eye candy.

Get Well Critters: Laurie, Angela, Katie, Tricia, Barb, Christi, Shell, Lisa
Get well Sentiments: Katie, Shell
Healing Scriptures: Laurie, Katie, Nancy, Stacy
2 Cor 10:3-5 : Katie, Stacy

Check back tomorrow as I have another sneak Peek for you.

TSG Blog Hop Challenge - Snowy Days

Torico has been winning our hearts with her cute animals and this month she has done it again! Our favorite pooch from Puppy Love is all bundled up and ready for winter!! From Skiing and snowboarding to hanging out with a snowman pal, this adorable puppy will warm your heart just in time for the holidays.  I'm the first official stop on the blog hop after the TSG Blog. 

There are so many cute images in this set that it was hard to choose which one to use!! I struggled and went back and forth between a few of the images and eventually decided on this one. The snowman (or snowgirl I should say) and the dog are way too cute together!!  I think the dog is eye-ing up the carrot nose - what do you think? 

My goodness... I had so much fun with the first card that when I saw Mercy's Sketch Challenge this week, I just HAD to make another one - I LOVE this set.  It's so much fun!!

How can you resist this snowboarding cutie?  He's just too cute!  I have watercolored him with my Derwent Inktense pencils and miscellaneous watercolor pencils. The DP is from Echo Park and Fancy Pants Designs.  Check out that snowflake - it's a wooden snowflake from Magenta that has an adhesive background - I'm really wishing I bought more of them but I bought them out of town and not sure if I want to spend an hour and a half driving one way to pick them up. But I do love 'em!

The next stop on the blog hop is Corinna - I know she'll have some amazing eye candy for you!!
Snowy Days is a 4x6 stamp set that includes a total of 17 of stamps and will sell for $15.

Would you like a chance to win the Snowy Days stamp set? Here’s what you need to do- go to each of the Trendsetter’s Blogs and leave a comment on their Snowy Days Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own Snowy Days stamp set. The winner will be announced Saturday (Oct. 30th) during the Release Party Chat.


 

TSG Blog Hop Challenge - Gobble and In Stitches

Just in the time for Thanksgiving! Torico has illustrated this fun and adorable Turkey that has a lot to say ;) Not only can he hold a sign designed to say 7 different sayings but he also has his glass and fork ready just in time for the big dinner.

I'm the first official stop on today's blog hop after the TSG Blog. If there is a break in the blog hop, there is a list of the Trendsetters at the TSG Blog. 

This set is way too cute!!! I wish that Canadian Thanksgiving hadn't already passed because I would have used this set to make cute place cards.  The sentiments are perfect for any Thanksgiving meal and would be great for Christmas Dinner as well.... Ideas are in my head now....  I've colored the image with my Derwent Inktense and watercolor pencils. The edge of the main panel has been sponged with Wheat Versamagic Ink.  The layout is from Mercy's sketch Challenge last week.

Gobble is a 3x4 stamp set that includes a total of 13 of stamps and will sell for $7.

One of the biggest trends in stamping right now is using a sewing machine to stitch directly onto your hand stamped cards. While this technique gives a very detailed look, it can be a little frustrating trying to master! No worries, TSG is here with a quick and easy way to get that stitched look you love! This mini set not only has some beautiful silhouette border images but it also includes two styles of stitching that will give you that stitched look you are after.

Check out what the ladies from the team have made with this set - great eye candy I tell ya!!! The next stop on the blog hop is my BSF, Corinna!!!

In Stitches is a 2x6 stamp set that includes a total of 7 of stamps and will sell for $7.

Would you like a chance to win the Gobble! / In Stitches stamp sets? Here’s what you need to do- go to each of the Trendsetter’s Blogs and leave a comment on their Gobble! / In Stitches Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own Gobble! / In Stitches stamp set. The winner will be announced Saturday (Oct. 30th) during the Release Party Chat.

TSG Blog Hop Challenge - Bountiful Blessings

Welcome to Day one of Sneak Peeks for There She Goes October Release!!!  If you happened upon my blog today, you'll want to go back to the There She Goes blog (however, I am the first stop on the hop after the TSG Blog). 

With the holidays just around the corner, it is only natural to really think about all of the amazing blessings in your life. This beautifully illustrated set by Torico for There She Goes is perfect for creating cards to give to those in your life that bring you joy.

 Fall is most definitely my favorite season. I love the crispness in the air and the colors of all the leaves as they change.  Last weekend, I bought some new Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils and I decided I had to play with them for this release. Although I still need practice with them, I have to say I LOVE them!!  They are so much fun and give a different look than my Tombow Markers.  I decided to get a little dirty with this card and I've distressed all the layers, dry embossed the DP with my Cuttlebug and inked the edges of the DP.  I love how it turned out - kinda like Fall if I do say so myself. 

The next stop on the hop is the amazingly talented Corinna. 

Bountiful Blessings is a 4x8 stamp set that includes a total of 18 of stamps and will sell for $18.

Would you like a chance to win the Bountiful Blessings stamp set? Here’s what you need to do- go to each of the Trendsetter’s Blogs and leave a comment on their Bountiful Blessings Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own Bountiful Blessings stamp set. The winner will be announced Saturday (Oct. 30th) during the Release Party Chat.
 
 

SSSC90 Best Wishes

Wow - has it ever been a busy week!!  I've been busy working and creating behind the scenes for upcoming releases both at There She Goes and Clear Dollar Stamps.  You'll love what they are both coming out with!! I know I am!!  I was still in the creating mood this morning so I checked out Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge and decided I just had to make something with the a la Mode called "Candy Cane Kisses" from My Favorite Things ( I tried linking it but it's currently out of stock). I love these girls I tell ya.  They are so much fun to color and believe it or not, I didn't pull out my Tombow Markers. Kim and I both bought the 24 pack of Derwent Inktense Pencils last week so I've been practicing my watercoloring with them.  I'm loving them!!! It's a totally different look to them - kinda reminds me of Prismas and Gamsol which I can't seem to master. I know... I know... It's all about practice.  And let's just say I'm having fun practicing with the Watercolor pencils. 

Stamps: Candy Cane Kisses - MFT

Paper:  Gina K White, Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Echo Park DP, Watercolor paper

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Basic Black

Accessories and Tools:  Derwent Inktense Pencils, Miscellaneous Watercolor pencils, Waterbrush, MS Snowflake Punch, Scor Tape, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (SU), button, linen thread, Pop Dots, clear detail embossing powder, ribbon

Stampbook Saturday - Stamping with Friends

It's my turn over on the TSG blog for Stampbook Saturday and this is the page I made.  As you know from posts earlier in the week, Kim Teasdale and I hosted a stamping event last weekend and this is a shot of most of the ladies who attended.  Gotta love the sentiment from the Craftier Taglines set  - "There's nothing better than a friend - unless it's a friend who stamps.  I thought this was fitting considering I have formed friendships with many of the ladies who attended.  The images are from the set "Crafty Taglines".  For more info, check out the TSG Blog today.  

A weekend of fun - Stampin' Island Style

As you know, Kim Teasdale and I hosted a stamping event this past Saturday called Stampin' Island Style 2010.  We had a great day with such an amazing group of ladies!!!  The card above is what I did as a make and take.  I had planned for a different flower but realized that my other flowers weren't big enough so we made scalloped circle flowers instead.  Mercy Kerin had done a tutorial quite some time ago that I will link to as soon as I find it.  The stamps used are from There She Goes and are from the sets, Everyday Greetings and Polka Dot Blooms. 

 This is a group shot of the ladies who attended - a couple had already left by the time we took  a group shot. 

Back row:  Tobi Crawford, Me, Kathy Sullivan, Joanna Runnells, Lorri Vallese
Front Row: Janice Hofman, Jessica Knutsen, Kim Teasdale and Glenda Wyatt

Jessica, Kim and Glenda all did make and takes as well.  I'll show pics of those later.  You ladies rock!!!

With having three Trendsetters in one place, we had to take a pic!!! We're missing someone though.... Corinna couldn't make it last minute and we definitely missed her on this day!! But I know we'll be seeing her soon as we're already thinking about Kim and I making a trip down to Washington State for a stamping weekend. 

All in all, it was a great day!!!  Hopefully we'll do something like this again. It was so nice meeting such wonderful ladies and it was great to see what everyone made.

Miss you a Latte

My MFT order arrived week before last but I had no time to make anything last week with getting ready for our event. So this weekend, while I spent the day with a great group of ladies, I made this card.  I absolutely love this a la Mode from MFT called "Miss you a Latte".  I had to have it as soon as I saw it. (I noticed last night that new ones are getting released today... guess what... I'm sure I'll be buying them! The MFT ladies are enablers I tell ya!  The image has been watercolored with my Tombow Markers and the sentiment has been stamped in Crumb Cake ink. The edges of both layers of DP have been sponged in Crumb Cake as well.  I wanted to keep the card relatively simple so just a bit of ribbon and buttons and there ya go!  All done...

TSG77 It's a dark night

WOW!!!! What an amazing fun few days!!! Kim Teasdale and I went to Victoria on Friday to see our Fearless leader, Jessica Knutsen who is on a mini holiday in Canada with her family (Jessica was also here for the event Kim and I were hosting).  We kidnapped her for the day and we went to a few stamp stores, an art store, a scrapbooking store (at each stop, my wallet came out and I bought way too many things!!!) - I had great enablers!  I managed to enable Jessica and Kim a few times too. 

We were having so much fun, we didn't realize how hungry we were getting. It was getting a bit late in the afternoon so we went to Red Robin.  YUMMO!!! We introduced Jessica to Poutine and she loved it!  It was so funny, because she thought it sounded like a "naughty" word.  We had to giggle every time Jessica said it.  What is Poutine you ask?  It's Fries, Cheese Curds and hot Gravy. YUMMY!!!

Kim and I hosted a Stamping event on Saturday which was a blast. Jessica came up to Nanaimo for it. My BSF Corinna had to cancel last minute so we were definitely missing her on this day!!!!  I can't wait to meet Corinna in the near future.  We'll be having a stamping in PJ's weekend soon.  (I have a lot of pics from the event - will be posting on my blog soon).  We had a great group of ladies, a few who I hadn't met including Glenda Wyatt (an Amuse Instructor) and Tobi Crawford.  Love these girls!!!!  They both have such amazing style in their cards!!

Okay... enough talking about our fun weekend, you're here for my card right?  hehehehe.   I have made this card for this week's color challenge hosted by the amazingly talented Sandra MacLean at There She Goes which is Black, Orange and Green.  You're wondering about all that purple right?  Well... I wanted to use it. I just had to - sponges were calling my name and Kim gave me a mini lesson on how she sponges so I had to use it.  Can I say purple is my new neutral?  I've used the tree image from the set, Treemendous and the mummy is from Hauntingly Delightful.  I've watercolored the mummy with my Tombow Markers.  The DP is from Echo Park (part of their Halloween line) and the ribbons were bought at Michaels.  (Sorry about the bad pic - I am house sitting at my parents and don't have my photo box with me right now).
To be eligible for the giveaway, you are to create a card that uses the featured color challenge then come back to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of this challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (10-25-10). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store!


By participating in this challenge, you may also find yourself in the Trendsetting Spotlight that shines on the TSG Blog every Thursday. We will be on the look out to find challenge cards that stand out and show Trendsetting qualities. TSG stamps are not required to participate in the challenges but are appreciated :)

You do not need to have a blog to be able to participate in the TSG Challenges! You can simply add the URL link from your project after it has been uploaded to your online craft gallery. If you upload your card to an online craft gallery, please use the keyword TSG77 so we can check out your beautiful work!
 
Have a great day!!!!  Thanks for sticking it out with my longer than usual blog post. I'll be posting some pics this week of our fun event and some of the things I made at it.
 

SSSC88 A kiss for you

Just a quick post today for you. It's been a busy few days with the final preparations for Stampin' Island Style underway.  Can I just say I'm SO EXCITED????  I get to meet fellow Trendsetters, Jessica Knutsen and Corinna McGregor and Kim Teasdale will be with us too.  4 Trendsetters in one place... Oh MY!!!  I get to meet Tobi Crawford as well which I'm excited about as I've always been a fan of her CAS style. 

Check back next week for pics from our event!!! Let the fun begin!

I made this card over the weekend for Karen Giron's SSSC88.  I stamped the image from Stampendous in Versafine Onyx Black, embossed with clear embossing powder and then watercolored with Tombow Markers. I used red rhinestones on their noses, an MS Punch, a bit of ribbon and a button and there you have it.

Have a great weekend!!!

SFYTT Thinking about the holidays

I'm surprising myself lately with some of my colors. I rarely use purple in anything but for some reason, the DP out there this season is inspiring me!!!  I'm loving it!  It's such a fresh color scheme for holiday cards.  Wanna know what else is inspiring me???  Jen del Muro's sketches are rocking and I tend to have a little bit of free time on the weekends so I sat down over the weekend and made this card.  The stamp is called Polar Gifts Cling from Stampendous that I bought at my Local stamp store, Crafty Capers.  The image has been watercolored with my Tombow Markers and a water brush.  I have to say (patting myself on the back) that I really like how my coloring turned out on this card.  See the snowflakes???  I made these using matching DP as the card as well as a MS Snowflake punch. Before punching the snowflakes out, I put some thick Scor-tape on the DP and then punched the flakes. I then added Dazzling Diamonds for a bit of glitz.  You know me... I love me some bling!! Each layer of DP has been dry embossed with various embossing folders and I've sponged the edges of each with co-ordinating inks.

Can I just say WAHOO??? Another Christmas card down!

TSG76 From the Heart

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Canadian readers!! Hope you're having a wonderful day with family and friends, with turkey and pumpkin pie.  Yum Yum Yum!!!  Not only is it Thanksgiving, it's time for this week's challenge at There She Goes.  Piali has come up with a recipe for you:  your card needs to have a Kraft base, use black and white as well as a pop of color. Your card also needs dry embossing somewhere on it!!!  Think embossing folders (that's what I did!!). I've gone for a more clean and simple card using this week's Fall to Layout.  The flowers that have been stamped in Rose Bud Memento ink are from the mini set called Kindred Spirits and the sentiment is from Everyday Greetings. 

We'd love for you to join us in this challenge!!! To be eligible for the giveaway, you are to create a card that uses the following recipe then come back to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of the challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (10-18-2010). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store!


By participating in this challenge, you may also find yourself in the Trendsetting Spotlight that shines on the TSG Blog every Thursday. We will be on the look out to find challenge cards that stand out and show Trendsetting qualities. TSG stamps are not required to participate in the challenges but are appreciated :)

You do not need to have a blog to be able to participate in the TSG Challenges! You can simply add the URL link from your project after it has been uploaded to your online craft gallery. If you upload your card to an online craft gallery, please use the keyword TSG76 so we can check out your beautiful work!


Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! Remember what you are thankful for!!

Bellarific Friday - They Followed me Home

I love my shoes... I love my bellas... I love Bellarific Friday!!! This week's Bellarific Friday challenge is to use "Fall" Colours.  I recently got the Pyrus Basic Grey DP and it is all in Fall tones. So BINGO!!!!  I was in luck.  I've used the image called "Imeldabella". Who doesn't love shoes and boots right?  For me it's about shoes and purses... I have so many of both that my hubby told me awhile back that I can't buy anymore (he's not here right now... so he won't know ;-)  But it doesn't mean that the shoes don't "Follow me home" sometimes.  Hehehe... The image has been watercolored with my Tombow Markers -using colors and tones to match the DP.  Loving it!!!  The layout has been inspired the one from Unscripted Sketches this week.  I haven't been to their blog before but WOW! I'll be back for sure.

Hope you have a wonderful day.

MTSC94 Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas.... no - not yet!!!! I'm notorious for saying I'm going to get Christmas cards out and year after year life is way too busy so I decided this year if I get a little head start on it, maybe I'll actually send some... We'll see...  I've used Mercy's Sketch Challenge for this week to create this cute card using the "Silly Goose SOM" at Clear Dollar Stamps.  I've watercolored the image with Jovial Basic Grey DP and then paper pieced the box with the same DP.  Antique Linen Distress Ink has been sponged around the edges.  Just a quick card to share with you this morning as I have to get ready for work now.

Another Christmas card down!!! Wahoo!!!

FTL110 Simply Snowing

I was in the mood to do a little stamping last night but didn't have the time to do any coloring so I decided to go clean and simple with this week's Fall to Layout (FTL110).  I've stamped the various snowflakes from Snow Flourishes (a new release from Clear Dollar Stamps) in Soft Sky and then added blue rhinestones to the center of each snowflake.  I decided to for-go (did I spell that right?) the sentiment because I haven't decided if this will be one of my Christmas cards this year or not.

Stamps/Images: Snow Flourishes

Cardstock/Papers:Kraft, Baja Breeze, Gina K white
Inks/Markers: Soft Sky
Accents/Tools: Rhinestones, ribbon, button, embroidery thread

 Hope you have a great day!!!